The Westford Wardsman, April, 1906
Saturday, April 7, 1906
Graniteville. Now that lent is fast drawing to a close the choirs in the different churches are busy rehearsing special music for Easter. In St. Katherine’s [sic] church a new mass will be sung and, as the composition calls for special effort in the different parts, this already well organized choir is making every effort to master it, and is sure to give a good account of itself on that day. The program in the M.E. church will consist of solo, trio and quartet singing, and is sure to please.
Narrow escape.—Samuel R. Willis, whose fiftieth wedding anniversary was celebrated on Thursday of last week, had a narrow escape from serious injury while in the performance of his duties as day watchman at the Abbot worsted company’s mill [in Graniteville], early Sunday afternoon. Mr. Willis went into the new wool storehouse, which has a platform running the whole length of the building. While walking on the platform he leaned on the railing for a moment. The railing gave way and he fell a distance of twenty feet to the hard concrete below. His fall was somewhat broken by striking on several bales of wool during his descent, or otherwise he would have been maimed for life. He was unconscious for the time being, but when he recovered his senses he crawled to the main part of the mill, where his cries for help attracted the attention of James Daly, a passer-by. Mr. Daly ran to Mr. Willis’ assistance and, seeing his condition, summoned a carriage and had him conveyed to his home on Broadway. Dr. S. L. Joslin was called and found no bones broken. Mr. Willis received a severe sprain of the right arm and ankle, and possibly was injured internally.
Saturday, April 14, 1906
Center. Tadmuck Club. So many of the programs of the Tadmuck club this winter have been of such real merit it would be hardly fair to say that the Shakespearian program was the best yet, but it is certainly fair to say that it was one of the best of the season. The afternoon was in charge of William A. Perkins, who had arranged a reading of the “Merchant of Venice.” The different ones read the parts of the characters assigned them in a most interesting and impressive manner. Owing to the length of the program, current events and the rollcall were omitted. The next meeting, April 24, will be “Cathedral towns,” and will be in charge of Miss Harriet C. Sargent. Following is the cast of characters at Tuesday afternoon’s meeting:
Merchant of Venice: Duke of Venice, Mrs. Bailey; Prince of Morocco, Miss Bunce; Antonio, the Merchant, Mr. Perkins; Bassanio, his friend, Rev. C. P. Marshall; Salanio, Miss Hewitt; Salarino, Miss Loker; Gratiano, Miss Smith; Lorenzo, Miss Newcomb; Shylock, Rev. B. H. Bailey; Tobal, his friend, Mrs. J. H. Fletcher; Launcelot, Mrs. Perkins; Portia, Miss Thompson; Nerissa, Miss Bailey; Jessica, Miss Sargent; clerk of the court, Miss Emily Fletcher; servant, Mrs. Perkins.
The lecture on the telephone by Mr. Merrill at the town hall Thursday evening, under auspices of Westford grange, proved very interesting. Mr. Merrill was an easy, fluent-speaker and illustrated his talk with some very clear stero-opticon views. This lecture, while it is really an advertising scheme of the telephone company, was of real instruction and benefit to the uninitiated into the wonderful mechanism of the great invention and its advantages in everyday life.
Everybody is watching with eager interest to see what the outcome will be of the present negotiations being held between the selectmen and the electrical railway men.
The spring meeting of the Middlesex union conference will be held with the Congregational church, Wednesday, April 18. Following is the program:
9:30 development service, H. G. Osgood; 9:45 reports of committees; 10:45 organization and business; 11 general subject; 12:15 adjournment, social hour and collation; 1:45 p.m., praise service, led by Rev. A. B. Peebles, South Acton; 2 business address, Rev. G. A. Tewksbury, Concord, subject, “Push,” discussion; 3 missionary address, Rev. F. E. Emrich, Boston; 4 closing exercise by the moderator.
Services of special interest are being planned for Easter at this church. In the morning the children of the Sunday school will participate in the services with songs and recitations and the pastor will preach. In the evening at 7:30 there will be a vesper praise service, the music being especially appropriate to Easter. Mr. Marshall will also speak in the evening.
We regret to report Mrs. Alvan Fisher on the sick list; also, Hiram Whitney is ill and under the care of a doctor and a trained nurse.
At the meeting of the ladies’ sewing circle held the week before Mrs. Chamberlain’s death, at which she was present, occurred a little incident which is remembered with special pathos by those present. Mrs. Chamberlain was at work on an apron, which at the close of the meeting was not quite finished. Remaining after the others had gone she put the final stitches in the garment and folded it neatly and all unconsciously left it as one of the witnesses of the faithful industry that characterized her life.
Mr. & Mrs. Walter Wright have been visiting in town.
Walter Johnson has been added to the working force at Wright & Fletcher’s store during the absence of S. H. Fletcher in Washington.
Mr. & Mrs. Oscar R. Spaulding, Mrs. Fannie Prescott and Miss Grace Burbeck have returned from Washington. They had beautiful weather and report a thoroughly delighted trip.
Since our esteemed townsman, Samuel L. Taylor, sacrificed the beard he has worn so many years to the interests of the dramatic given last week, have his friends noticed the fine Emersonian profile thus revealed? We knew Mr. Taylor was a thorough student and admirer of the great “Sage of Concord,” but we didn’t realize a facial resemblance until now.
At the Unitarian church Sunday morning there will be the usual preaching service, with Easter music and tasteful decorations, and at the Sunday school hour from twelve to one there will be a special Easter program consisting of music and recitations.
About Town. The Hearing. At the hearing in Boston before the railroad commissioners on the question of a change of location of the spur track of the Fitchburg and Lowell street railway, the town was represented by the selectmen and town counsel; also several interested citizens were present, Hon. H. E. Fletcher, Wm. E. Edwards, George C. Moore, A. H. Suteland, S. L. Taylor. The town of Chelmsford was represented by Judge Fisher of Lowell, and two of the selectmen. As a result of the hearing managers of the railway were in town last Wednesday viewing the proposed new route. Is there any locality in town that has not been suggested as suitable place for a spur track? If there is any such place speak right up gentlemen, “And you shall be heard” [possibly a reference to Matthews 6:7].
Graniteville. Mr. & Mrs. J. E. Ward spent a few days visiting friends in Watertown last week.
John Duffy of Wrentham is now visiting at the home of Mr. & Mrs. John E. Ward in North Westford.
Palm Sunday was fittingly observed in St. Catherine’s church here. Rev. Edmund T. Schofield was the celebrant of the mass and preached a very interesting sermon.
The ladies’ aid society of the Methodist church met at the home of Mrs. F. S. [G.] Sargent on last Thursday.
The Graniteville baseball association held a public meeting in Healy’s hall on last Wednesday night and formed plans for the coming season.
Mrs. Katherine Harrington and James Harrington of Leominster visited friends in this village this week.
Thomas Longbottom has resigned as station master at the West Graniteville station, to accept a more lucrative position as station agent and telegraph operator at South Lancaster. Mr. Longbottom assumed his new duties last Monday.
The Westford board of education will attend a district meeting in Acton on Saturday, April 21, for the purpose of electing a new superintendent of schools for the district of Acton, Littleton and Westford.
The regular meeting of the Fortnightly club was held in the No. 9 schoolhouse at North Westford, on last Friday night, and a large number were in attendance. It was one of the most interesting of the many meetings that the club has held during the present season, and the audience was keenly appreciative of the clever efforts of those who took part in the entertainments. The meeting was called to order by the chairman, Arthur Blodgett, after which the opening song was given by the club members, Mrs. Myrtle Upton presiding at the organ. Prayer was offered by Hiram Dane. The secretary’s report was read and acted upon. Next came the entertainment with the following excellent program:
Organ solo, Miss Mary Shugrue; recitations, Russell Smith, Harry Sherburne, Miss Eva Harrington; vocal duet, Miss Katherine Burke and Mrs. Arthur Blodgett; recitations, Sammy Sherburn, Miss Cora Smith; dialogue, “How to keep good resolves,” Mrs. Eva Ward, Mrs. Arthur Blodgett, Mrs. Chas. A. Blodgett; violin and mandolin duet, Miss Katherine Burke, Arthur Blodgett; dramatic reading, Mrs. Eva Ward; humorous reading, Horace E. Gould; recitations, Mrs. O. N. Nelson, Miss Eva Harrington; vocal selection, with violin obbligato, Miss Katherine Burke, Mr. Blodgett; song, Mrs. William Smith; recitation, Master Edward Blodgett, followed by an organ solo by Miss Mary Shugrue.
All those who took part acquitted themselves with credit, but special mention should be made of Miss Cora Smith, who although young in years showed fine dramatic power in the rendering of her lines, her recitation making a decided hit.
Saturday, April 21, 1906
Center.—The Westford friends of Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Sargent of Graniteville rejoice with them in the advent of a baby daughter [Vivian Maude b. April 10, 1906] and sincerely hope she may in a measure take the place of little Victoria [Virginia Maude, b. July 26, 1897, d. April 2, 1905], taken from them by death last year.
Graniteville.—The glorious festival of Easter was fittingly observed in both churches here. In St. Catherine’s the altar presented a beautiful sight with its numerous cut flowers and potted plants, the ever welcome lily being very much in evidence. At ten o’clock high mass was celebrated by Rev. John J. McNamara. The regular choir was in attendance and under the able direction of Miss Mary F. Hanley. The following excellent musical program was given:
Kyrie, Gloira and Credo, Gounod; Sanctus, De Mondi; Angus Dei, Schmidt; Regina Coeli, Battman.
At the M.E. church the regular morning services were held at 10:30 o’clock and were conducted by the pastor, Rev. W. E. Anderson. The evening services, which were held at seven o’clock, were in the form of an Easter concert, and the choir, which has been practicing faithfully for the past few weeks, gave a fine rendering of “the resurrection” and “ascension” taken from “Emmanuel” by J. Elliott Trowbridge. Particularly pleasing was the solo, “They have taken away my Lord,” by Miss Margaret Carmichael. All the members of the choir did finely in their different parts and much credit is due Henry Smith for the active interest he has taken in the rehearsals, and his solo work on Sunday evening.
Mrs. Arthur J. Charlton is now in Philadelphia, where she was called, owing to the illness of her mother.
Saturday, April 28, 1906
Westford. Acting on the suggestion of Governor Guild the selectmen of Westford organized a relief committee for the purpose of soliciting funds for the California earthquake [of April 18] sufferers, and the committee chosen to represent Graniteville was composed of the following gentlemen: A. R. Choate, A. R. Wall, W. C. Wright and J. B. Carmichael. The committee was very successful and something over $500 was raised in two days in this village alone. On next Sunday collections will be taken up in the Methodist and St. Katherine’s [sic] churches and no doubt substantial sums will be raised in both places. Graniteville may stand at variance in several things, and the people may not always do as other people think they should do, but when it comes to a question of charity the Graniteville people are always ready to do their part. A pleasing incident of the collection was the presentation of a check for $300 by the Abbot Worsted Co. This firm is always generous in such matters, but in this instance the amount far exceeded the expectations of the collector.
Forge. William Bennett is very sick; Mr. Northrup, Mrs. Cougle, Miss Laura Voyez are much better; Miss Marian Sweatt has been on the sick list, but is now better; Miss Edith Normington has sprained her ankle and is very lame.
There was an “experience party” at the [St. Andrew’s] mission house Wednesday evening and a good time for old and young. A nice little sum of money was earned toward the payment of church debt.
Mrs. Wheeler Drake of Pepperell has moved into one of Mrs. Randall’s houses. Her sister, Mrs. Reed, is with her.
Walter Precious is in town visiting his sisters.
The ladies’ circle will meet with Mrs. Parsons Thursday afternoon.
H. V. Hildreth and family spent patriots’ day at their camp at Forge pond.